Body identified as lost lake kayaker

A body that washed ashore near Zion on Wednesday was that of a missing Gurnee kayaker, authorities said.

The body, which was discovered at the Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, was 44-year-old Walter A. Doroba, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller confirmed.

A state park employee spotted the partially decomposed body just off shore about 3 p.m. and pulled it to the beach, Keller said.

Doroba likely died from drowning, Keller said, and his body appears to have been in the water awhile.

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed Thursday morning.

Doroba disappeared Oct. 28 while kayaking on Lake Michigan near Waukegan.

His overturned kayak was found on the water and other belongings were found on the shore, but his body was not recovered despite days of searching by the Coast Guard and local police and firefighters.

Doroba had just bought the kayak and may have been on the lake for the first time when he disappeared, authorities said last month.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department is investigating. A woman reached at Doroba's home who didn't identify herself declined comment.

• Daily Herald staff writer Jack Komperda contributed to this report.